1. < Lung Cancer

Been awhile since I've been here, new nodule growth

Posted by silvergirl29 @silvergirl29, Jan 29 4:20pm

Hi , I'm sorry it's been so long and I lost track of this wonderful source. Last year I had an upper right lobectomy and stage 1 adenocarcenoma was found. Surgeon also took half of middle lobe & some lymph nodes. My left lung with 5 or 6 nodules was never biopsied nobody told me that and I had thoughts about it, anyhow in Decemeber CT showed that a 0.8 x 0.8 MM nodule in lower left had grown to 0.9x 1.0 and they said "no need biopsy ,it's too small" but ordered PET (which it took them 3 weeks to get me in to discuss) showed it's now 1.0 x 1.4 CM and some of my cervical lymph nodes had suv of 7 up from 4. She said something about just monitoring it and I felt they were kind of minimizing my concerns (and I'm terrified of losing Medicare) and said but it has grown like 2 mm in a flipping month so she went and talked to Dr and came back over 10 minutes later with new plan to have surgeon remove it, can't biopsy because it's near aorta. I'm really feeling like they hadn't really reviewed the PET scan because I don't think surgery would be recommended just to "humor" me. Anyhow I'm nervous and nobody really has covered odds with multiple nodules for me. Has anyone had a similar experience??!

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gig666 | @gig666 | Feb 1 12:27pm

I too have lung nodules in both my lungs. They did a
Pulmonary Bronchscope, tube down your throat into lungs and biopsy is done. You are asleep! Good luck

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Feb 1 1:22pm
In reply to @dtorelli "I’m having VATS Monday for a newly found 1.5 LRL smooth nodule. CT, FDG PET, and..." + (show)
@dtorelli

I’m having VATS Monday for a newly found 1.5 LRL smooth nodule. CT, FDG PET, and Gallium Dontatate68 PET done because she thought Carcinoid. She is a top Lung Cancer specialist. Chief Professor of Thoracic Surgery. She felt it needs to come out and during surgery they will do a frozen biopsy. I do have a 39 year 1/2 pack a day smoking history. Quit 13 years ago. She said it may be nothing, but since my last CT was done 10/17 and that wasn’t there she doesn’t know if this grew fast or just showed up. I know if I don’t have VATS I will worry every day.

Jump to this post

@dtorelli , best of luck to you on Monday. It sounds like you have been fortunate to find a very competent team. Knowing the cellular make-up of the mass will give you the reassurance that you are looking for. I that I want to know if it's cancer, and I want to know if it isn't. Pathology is our only way to know for sure. Just curious, is the nodule in a location that is difficult to biopsy?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Feb 1 1:26pm
In reply to @gig666 "I too have lung nodules in both my lungs. They did a Pulmonary Bronchscope, tube down..." + (show)
@gig666

I too have lung nodules in both my lungs. They did a
Pulmonary Bronchscope, tube down your throat into lungs and biopsy is done. You are asleep! Good luck

Jump to this post

@gig666, I've had a few bronchoscopy procedures too. I've found them to be fairly easy, with a little bit of coughing after each. I'm not a big fan of coming out of anesthesia, but I'm happy to have the anesthesia when I need it. I've also been fortunate that twice the pulmonologist was able to biopsy lymph fluid, and didn't have to get all the way into lung for the nodule.
I hope you are doing well!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Feb 1 1:38pm
In reply to @silvergirl29 "I haven't heard from surgeon as of yet, I'm suddenly wishing that there was a way..." + (show)
@silvergirl29

I haven't heard from surgeon as of yet, I'm suddenly wishing that there was a way to do chemo or radiation because the right lobectomy was hellacious, lung collapsed, got crepitus and blew up like the Michelin Man and my body really hates tape and tubing. What is the biopsy procedure like? I really need to get a new notebook going for this and write the list of questions down because I go blank any suggestions on what I need to know?

Jump to this post

HI @silvergirl29, There are different types of lung biopsy procedures. Most go down the throat, which sounds scary, but it's the least risky. Other types use a needle placed through the chest wall. You are obviously put under anesthesia for both. Generally, you may have a little coughing afterward, but recovery is usually fairly easy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374627
It sounds like you have a good team, and they obviously know your history the best. Here are some thoughts/questions that may help you. I would be curious, if they are able to biopsy the lymph node. If not, are they able to take just a wedge, or because of the location do they need to take the entire lobe? You've already had a reduction in lung capacity, would missing another lobe have an impact on your daily life going forward?
Best of luck to you!

REPLY
1 reply
dtorelli | @dtorelli | Feb 1 2:53pm
In reply to @lls8000 "@dtorelli , best of luck to you on Monday. It sounds like you have been fortunate..." + (show)
@lls8000

@dtorelli , best of luck to you on Monday. It sounds like you have been fortunate to find a very competent team. Knowing the cellular make-up of the mass will give you the reassurance that you are looking for. I that I want to know if it's cancer, and I want to know if it isn't. Pathology is our only way to know for sure. Just curious, is the nodule in a location that is difficult to biopsy?

Jump to this post

No it’s not in a difficult area. Lower Right Lung. She feels that why put me under for 30 to 45 minutes for an ION biopsy when it should be removed given my history and age. She feels optimistic that it will be malignant.

REPLY
silvergirl29 | @silvergirl29 | Feb 1 3:38pm
In reply to @gig666 "I too have lung nodules in both my lungs. They did a Pulmonary Bronchscope, tube down..." + (show)
@gig666

I too have lung nodules in both my lungs. They did a
Pulmonary Bronchscope, tube down your throat into lungs and biopsy is done. You are asleep! Good luck

Jump to this post

I had a robotic bronchoscopy last year but for some reason they only biopsied the right side and upper lobe plus about half of middle and some lymph nodes were taken out and lung was stage 1 adenocarcinoma. For some reason I'd feel "safer" doing that again!

REPLY
silvergirl29 | @silvergirl29 | Feb 1 3:46pm
In reply to @lls8000 "HI @silvergirl29, There are different types of lung biopsy procedures. Most go down the throat, which..." + (show)
@lls8000

HI @silvergirl29, There are different types of lung biopsy procedures. Most go down the throat, which sounds scary, but it's the least risky. Other types use a needle placed through the chest wall. You are obviously put under anesthesia for both. Generally, you may have a little coughing afterward, but recovery is usually fairly easy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374627
It sounds like you have a good team, and they obviously know your history the best. Here are some thoughts/questions that may help you. I would be curious, if they are able to biopsy the lymph node. If not, are they able to take just a wedge, or because of the location do they need to take the entire lobe? You've already had a reduction in lung capacity, would missing another lobe have an impact on your daily life going forward?
Best of luck to you!

Jump to this post

Yeah, I had the robotic bronchoscopy last time around and as far as things I have been through not so bad! I have pretty good lung capacity as it is but if it's positive would prefer another route mainly because of all of the lung based viruses etc. out there in the wild running amok if that makes sense! They said pulmonologist wouldn't be comfortable doing biopsy close to aorta so I'm hoping he can do it with needle or something rather than remove more lung and going through that again.

REPLY
1 reply
silvergirl29 | @silvergirl29 | Feb 1 3:51pm
In reply to @dtorelli "I’m having VATS Monday for a newly found 1.5 LRL smooth nodule. CT, FDG PET, and..." + (show)
@dtorelli

I’m having VATS Monday for a newly found 1.5 LRL smooth nodule. CT, FDG PET, and Gallium Dontatate68 PET done because she thought Carcinoid. She is a top Lung Cancer specialist. Chief Professor of Thoracic Surgery. She felt it needs to come out and during surgery they will do a frozen biopsy. I do have a 39 year 1/2 pack a day smoking history. Quit 13 years ago. She said it may be nothing, but since my last CT was done 10/17 and that wasn’t there she doesn’t know if this grew fast or just showed up. I know if I don’t have VATS I will worry every day.

Jump to this post

I hope that it goes well for you, it sounds like you are in good hands. I can totally relate to that worry every day feeling, mine grew 2 mm in a month and every day that has passed since that PET scan I can't help but wonder how much that is a day. Much Love & Light to you, I hope to hear it just showed up and wasn't growing fast but your mind is eased.

REPLY
gig666 | @gig666 | Feb 1 6:50pm
In reply to @silvergirl29 "Yeah, I had the robotic bronchoscopy last time around and as far as things I have..." + (show)
@silvergirl29

Yeah, I had the robotic bronchoscopy last time around and as far as things I have been through not so bad! I have pretty good lung capacity as it is but if it's positive would prefer another route mainly because of all of the lung based viruses etc. out there in the wild running amok if that makes sense! They said pulmonologist wouldn't be comfortable doing biopsy close to aorta so I'm hoping he can do it with needle or something rather than remove more lung and going through that again.

Jump to this post

I have a new bronchiectosis, a tube condition that gets clogged with mucous and probably a few baby carcinoid causing such conjestio , coughing. It is near the opening to my airways to my heart.
They can always do a needle through your side ribs.
Either way they would put you on preventative medication. Good luck!

REPLY
gig666 | @gig666 | Feb 1 7:24pm
In reply to @lls8000 "@gig666, I've had a few bronchoscopy procedures too. I've found them to be fairly easy, with..." + (show)
@lls8000

@gig666, I've had a few bronchoscopy procedures too. I've found them to be fairly easy, with a little bit of coughing after each. I'm not a big fan of coming out of anesthesia, but I'm happy to have the anesthesia when I need it. I've also been fortunate that twice the pulmonologist was able to biopsy lymph fluid, and didn't have to get all the way into lung for the nodule.
I hope you are doing well!

Jump to this post

Can tell me l was diagnosed with Neurocarcinod cancer tumor cancer 2023. They have grown slightly, in my right lung, plus adding in the bronchiectasis found last scan. Friday, My oncologist wrote following patient for
Neuroendocrine carcinoma? Is that another term for from neurocarcinod cancer? No lymph nodes.

REPLY
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